As reported by Relief Web on 21 March 2019, President Duque has
rejected six important articles of the statutory law for the Special Peace Jurisdiction (JEP) which was drawn up to address justice for the victims of the most serious crimes committed during the armed conflict between FARC and the Colombian government. Meanwhile, far away from the political decisions in Bogota, a criminal group has
issued a warning to the pastor of a church in El Carmen de Bolivar in northern Colombia, advising him to leave the area within a month (as reported by El Noticiero del Pueblo on 2 March 2019). Similarly, Aciprensa reported on 20 March 2019 that a Catholic priest in Antioquƒa (north-western Colombia) was forced to abandon his parish on account of
death-threats. Due to the insecurity of the area, no replacement has been appointed which means that the local Catholic community will not be able to celebrate Easter services.
Rossana Ramirez, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, comments: "Despite the hopes of peace following the deal signed between the government and FARC in 2016, Colombia is far from peaceful. The JEP law is regarded as being central to the whole peace-process and such an open rejection by the government is paramount to inviting dissident guerrillas to join up with other criminal groups and return to fighting. As Colombia Reports stated on 28 March 2019, attacks by suspected ELN and
rearmed ex-FARC guerrillas continue to be a cause for concern in the country. This whole scenario is affecting Christians, particularly in the most troubled areas. Christian leaders who dare to oppose the activities of local criminal groups continue to face death-threats and the local authorities are failing to recognize the scope of this problem. Due to the insecure environment, it is not only church leaders who are affected but also entire Christian communities."
